Many patients seeking facial rejuvenation procedures express confusion about the multiple types of procedures being touted and what is best for them. The constant marketing of named or branded procedures frequently has patients coming in and asking for a specific named lift without really knowing if this will do anything to help them. This is especially true for the variety of mini or short scar lifts which attract patients with promises of minimal invasiveness, less pain and quick recovery while promising wonder results at the same time.

Dr. Schwartz offers the full spectrum of both mini and full lifts. He counsels patients though to not fit themselves to a technique but to get the procedure that best delivers the results they are looking for. You are doing this to look and feel better. This is your face and everyone is going to see it. If you are the right candidate for a mini lift then you'll be very happy. If more is needed then isn't a week or two of additional recovery worth getting the result you are looking for?

The following two patients illustrate these principles. They each present a different challenge due to their respective ages and facial changes. Both desire a natural and undistorted look. Both would like to be as cost effective as possible with their time and their finances but understand that doing what gets the best result is the key to full satisfaction.
This patient presents with early to moderates signs of facial aging. There is deflation of the cheeks, early jowling and moderate skin laxity with loss of a defined jaw neckline.

She is an excellent candidate for a short scar facelift. Done in office under local anesthesia, a smaller incision with less facial dissection is used. Tightening of the underlying skin and muscle is performed and a good rejuvenation can be achieved. The result is natural and not distorted. The patient returns to normal activities after a week.

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The second patient presents with more advanced problems of facial aging. She has heavier tissues, which will not reposition easily. There are deep nasolabial folds, and heavy jowls with distortion of the jawline. The cervical mental angle is obtuse with a blunted chin and no defined jaw neckline.
She is not a candidate for a mini lift. A facelift with dissection in the deep plane allows lifting of the heavy cheek and jowls without pulling or distortion. Extensive lifting of the neck skin as well as release, repositioning and tightening of the deep neck muscles with a pre jowl implant to the chin creates a defined jaw neck line.

Although this remains an outpatient procedure it is not an office procedure. General anesthesia performed in an accredited surgicenter is required. Initial recovery is two weeks for return to work and normal activity. Swelling can be prolonged and the result will continue to improve over 3-6 months. Seen at 3 months this patient's result is dramatic even with some as yet unresolved neck edema. The patient has not found this a problem given the marked improvement she has already achieved.